As it has been all season, it truly is do or die time for the Eagles. A win against Washington on Saturday will extend their season to Week 17, where they will have a chance to make the playoffs with a win against the New York Giants.
A loss to Washington on Saturday puts an end to this up-and-down season once and for all.
It's almost a blessing in disguise.
Every embarrassing loss, every week of frustration and the Eagles constantly stayed in the picture for the NFC East title right down to the final weeks of the season. At this point, Eagles fans can't bear another week of the frustration. The fact that there will be a definitive result on this season can finally allow everyone to give the season an identity.
But does it really matter? If the Eagles do win the final two games and make the playoffs, is there any satisfaction in having to fight to the finish to win a division at 8-8?
Sure, the prospect of hosting a playoff game is always intriguing. Every team wants to be the division winner to get that opportunity and have the home-field advantage even for one game. And truth be told, getting into the playoffs is half the battle.
But the Eagles loss to Arizona was another example of how the Eagles aren't ready to compete with some of the best teams in the league.
In reality, if the Eagles were truly capable of playing on the same level as the Patriots — a team they only defeated because of injuries to the opposition — the Cardinals or the Panthers.
The Eagles have a 2-2 record against divisional opponents with two games to go against the NFC East. Aside from their win against the Patriots, who currently sit at 12-2, the Eagles have won games against the New York Jets (9-5), New Orleans Saints (5-9), New York Giants (6-8), Dallas Cowboys (4-10) and Buffalo Bills (6-8).
Put aside the losses to the 12-2 Cardinals and 14-0 Panthers, and the team's remaining six losses have come against the Cowboys, Atlanta Falcons (7-7), Washington Redskins (7-7), Miami Dolphins (5-9), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-8) and Detroit Lions (5-9).
Aside from New England, the Eagles only defeated one other team with a winning record, the Jets. Three of the Jets nine wins have come against the remaining teams in the NFC East and three more have come against a nearly as anemic division in the AFC South — no team has better than a 7-7 record in that division.
And then there are the six losses outside of Super Bowl contenders Arizona and Carolina. Four of the six are against teams with losing records.
Even if the Eagles were to grab two more wins, finish 8-8, and steal the NFC East, what pride is there in doing that? How is that an honor, even if they are hosting a playoff game, when they suffered three losses allowing 40 or more points, lost to four teams with losing records and faced so much adversity over the course of the season?
The Eagles are still in contention for the division and by all means, they should do everything in their power to win it. It would certainly give a little more shine to a rather dull season that holds many blemishes. And, of course, the point of taking the course of a 16-game season is to make the playoffs, particularly by winning the division.
But it is simply the reality of the situation. The Eagles made the rash moves in the offseason looking to build the team around Chip Kelly and his style. Playoff game or not, look what it got you: an 8-8 season with two must-win games to close the season.
It's hard to look at that and call it successful.
Kevin Durso is managing editor for Eagledelphia. Follow him on Twitter @Kevin_Durso.
